Trump, weed and rock'n'roll: the GOP's anti-joint crusade seems to be ending

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating a loosening of federal marijuana regulations, marking a possible shift from decades of particularly restrictive policies. The measure instructs the Department of Justice to move swiftly toward reclassifying the substance, which would place it in a category considered less dangerous, alongside commonly prescribed medications such as certain painkillers and hormones.

A potential reclassification would represent one of the most significant changes to federal cannabis policy in decades. According to observers and industry operators, it could encourage more rational regulation, stimulate scientific research, attract new investment, and reduce difficulties in accessing banking services for an industry already widespread at the state level.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer welcomed the decision, while a substantial portion of Republicans voiced strong criticism. Trump clarified that marijuana would remain illegal at the federal level and subject to a patchwork of local laws, stressing the need for caution. Some experts added that congressional action would still be necessary to ensure a stable and coherent regulatory framework.

The president justified the move by referring to requests from patients suffering from chronic pain, while reiterating his personal opposition to substance use. Administration officials explained that the main goal of the order is to expand medical research on marijuana and its derivatives in order to more rigorously assess risks and potential therapeutic benefits. In this context, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are expected to allow some beneficiaries to use hemp-derived CBD products.

Opposition has not been lacking: several Republican lawmakers warned that reclassification could send the wrong message and have negative consequences for public safety. However, supporters of a more flexible approach note that marijuana is already widely used in the United States and that millions of people have been arrested for possession, while a legal market continues to grow under differing state regulations.

In this scenario, many view the administration’s move as an attempt to update a policy that is increasingly disconnected from the country’s social and economic reality, paving the way for a more balanced, evidence-based regulatory approach.

Klevis Gjoka